Breaker and stopper extractor



Jan. 18, 1927. 1,615,150

E. VALLENS BREAKER AND STOPPER EXTRACTOR Filed Feb. 24. 1923 Sin-imuhjt96776 nz/lens,

annular Patented Jan. 18, 1927.

UNITED STATES EUGENE VALLENS, OF NEW' YORK, N. Y.

BREAKER AND STOPPER EXTRACTOR.

Application filed February 2 1 1923.

The invention has for an object to effect an improvement in seals forcigar containers, and particularly of that type employed in sealing acigar in a glass tube. It has for an object to provide a satisfactorymeans for hermetically sealing such a tube in asimple and economicalmanner, while yet enabling ready removal of the sealing device. It is afurther important aim to provide an extractor for a cork stopperinserted in such-a tube in the form of a ribbon inserted under the cork.It is a further important aim of the invention to provide means forprotecting the ribbon against disturbance after the stoppered end of thetube has been dippedin paraffine, to the end that in handl1ng, sh1pment,or otherwise, movement of the ribbon adjacent the mouth of the bottlewill not occur, which would fracture the paraffine thereon and thereadjacent, by which the tube is sealed, and the hermetic quality of the sealthus impaired.

It is a further important aim of this invention to provide anarrangement whereby a combined seal breaker and cork extractor isprovided in one element, so that where a covering seal or cap is placedover the end of the tube after sealing with the stopper and parafiine,it will not be necessary for the person desiring to use the contents ofthe tube to use his fingernails or an instrument for the breaking of thecap ordinarily em ployed in this way.

I am aware of the familiar practice of closing cigars in tubes with astopper, and I am also aware of the practice of providing for theextraction of stoppers from bottles and jars by confining within thestopper a tape or the like, which projects beside the stopper and may begrasped for its withdrawal.

Additional objects, advantages and features of invention may becomeapparent from the construction, arrangement and combination of theparts, as will be more readily understood from the following descriptionand accompanying drawings, wherein,

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a tube sealed and having my inventionapplied thereon,

Fig. 2 is a similar view at right angles to Fig. 1, partly in section,

Fig. 3 is a detail of the sealed end of the tube before emplacement ofthe final seal or cap,

Serial No. 620,934.

A cigar 12 is shown in the tube. After emplacement of the cigar, theribbon 13 is 2' laid across the end of the tube with its end portionsprojecting equally on each side thereof, and a stopper 1 1 then insertedin the tube, pressing the ribbon downwardly, the

ribbon being located close to or on a diametrical line across the innerend of the stopper. The ends of the ribbon are then folded inwardlyacross the outer end of the stopper 14. and drawn longitudinally inwardbeside the tube 10, as shown in Fig. 2, and held in this manner whilethe tube is dipped in paratfine. An ornamental cap or seal 15 is thenplaced over the stoppered end of the tube, extending a distancelongitudinally upon the tube, but less than the length of the endportions of the ribbon beside the tube. The cap 15 is formed of amaterial of suitable strength to protect the parafiine against abrasioncasually in the ordinary course of use in shipment or storage. The inneredge portion of the cap 15 is then firmly secured by means of a band 16,also of ornamental form, which is extended around the inturned portionof the cap and secured by adhesives or otherwise.

In practice, the cap 15 is formed of paper and the band 16 also. As itis necessary for the band to be of sutlicient strength to preventloosening of the cap 15 and casual disturbance of the ribbon 13 as well,it is desirable that this also be of ample strength. 'flhle cap 15 isordinarily covered with gold In applying the band 16, the cap 15 istrimmed first to a good edge, or the cap is pre-formed in such mannerthat when engaged over the end of a tube and closely against the sidesthereof, it will have an edge nearly uniform and in a plane at rightangles to the axis of the tube. The band 16 is gummed upon the innerside and is applied to the package extending a distance against thesurface of the tube 10 and also over the edge portion of the cap 15, sothat casual disengagement of the cap 15 is thoroughl y guarded against.

In the use of the package, for the removal of a cigar, it is onlynecessary to grasp the projecting ribbon end or ends 17 as shown inFigs. 1 and 2, drawing them outwardly at right angles to the tube oneafter the other and then longitudinally outward from the tube, thisserving to thoroughly break up the cap 15 across the end of the tube, sothat then by grasping the two end portions of the ribbon together anddrawing them longitudinally outward from the tube, the stopper 14 iseasily removed.

It will be seen that a very simple expedient is provided for performingthe function of a combined stopper extractor and seal breaker which maybe embodied at a low cost.

It is preferable that the ends of the ribbon be laid parallel across thetop of the stopper and spaced apart, as shown in Fig. 5, so that in thedrawing of the ends outward each will break off separate large parts ofthe cap, and thus facilitate the passage of the stopper from the end ofthe tube. It is insufficient in such devices to break the cap portiononly at opposite sides, leaving portions intervening unbroken andextending integrally to the top part of the cap, as these would stillprevent withdrawal of the stopper, the securing band being glued to thetube and cap continuously. By the arrangement insuring breakage of themajor portion of the end of the cap, parts tending to obstruct thewithdrawal of the cap are eliminated.

lVhat is claimed is In a device of the character described, areceptacle, having an opening and a stopper titted snugly therein, aflexible extractor member having a medial portion coniineo in theopening by said stopper, its end por tions being laid across the stopperin spaced relation and then extended beside the receptacle a distance, afrangible hermetical sealing material intimately adhering and forming acoating over the stopper, superposed parts of the extractor and adjacentsurfaces of the receptacle, and a breakable cap engaged over thestopper, and extractor, surrounding the adjacent parts of the receptacleand seemed thereto, but stopping short of the extremities of theextractor.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature.

EUGENE VALLENS.

